ANC slams Makhosi Khoza’s new party over “apropriating” ANC colours in logo
The ANC have unleashed on former ANC MP Makhosi Khoza and her new party. The ruling party wants action taken fast. Does the ANC have a leg to stand on?
Last week, former ANC MP Makhosi Khoza revealed all the details about her new political party: African Democratic Change (ADEC). The party held a public launch and media conference that seems to have rattled the ANC.
On Monday, the ANC released a statement slamming ADEC for their choice of logo. The ANC says the logo’s use of the ANC colours amounts to appropriation that will confuse voters.
“The ANC nevertheless notes with regret that the launch of the ADEC should be marred by the decision of the new party’s leadership to blatantly appropriate the colours of the ANC into its logo. The black, green and gold colors are recognized both locally and internationally and are associated with the long and proud history of Africa’s oldest liberation movement. Further deliberate action is taken to ensure the imagery within the logo closely resembles that of the ANC.
That the ADEC should incorporate the exact colors, as well as the exact sequence in which they are presented, into its logo points to a paucity of ideas at best, and political chicanery at worst. It appears to be an attempt to attract supporters by means of subterfuge, which is regrettable.”
The ANC also accused Khoza and her new party of attempting to “confuse” voters who associate those colours with the ANC. The party says this undermines the spirit of free and fair elections.
The ANC’s legal team will now lodge an objection with the IEC against this “blatant mischief”.
“The ANC is not surprised that yet another political party in South Africa is attempting to ride on the coattails of ANC icons, iconography and symbolism. We saw this same chance taking with the launch of the ill-fated Congress of the People (COPE) which sought to associate its own history with the Congress of the People in Kliptown; the African Independent Congress (AIC) and the DA’s use of Nelson Mandela in its municipal government election campaign in 2016.
With no history and traditions of their own of the stature of the ANC – they have resorted to appropriation and intellectual property theft.”
Do you think Makhosi Khoza and her party went too far here?